Trump puts fraudsters on notice with $25M whistleblower program offering cash for tips that deliver

EXCLUSIVE - President Donald Trump is putting cash behind his crackdown on taxpayer fraud, preparing to offer Americans rewards for tips that help bring fraudsters to justice.

Trump and Vice President JD Vance will unveil a $25 million Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program during a Tuesday afternoon announcement with the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud in the Oval Office, a White House official told Fox News Digital.

The program, known as WHIP, will offer eligible tipsters up to $30,000 if their information leads to a successful fraud conviction or a significant federal enforcement action, the official said.

TRUMP'S WAR ON FRAUD EXPANDS AS TREASURY LAUNCHES NEW SITE WITH WHISTLEBLOWER INCENTIVES Trump also plans to present independent journalist Nick Shirley with a $10,000 check for his work exposing suspected fraud in Minnesota, according to the official.

"Every day, President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud is zeroing in on the rampant abuse of taxpayer dollars and giving Americans the accountability they deserve.

This administration has zero tolerance for individuals who steal from Americans," White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis told Fox News Digital.

EXCLUSIVE: NICK SHIRLEY FIRES BACK AT MINNESOTA CRITICS: 'NUMBERS DON'T LIE, AND CONVICTIONS DON'T LIE' The Justice Department will administer the new program, and Americans will be able to submit tips through fraud.gov, the official said.

The initiative aims to encourage both independent journalists and everyday Americans to flag suspected fraud involving taxpayer money.

Shirley drew national attention in December 2025 after publishing a video questioning whether several Somali-run Minnesota day care centers were operating as legitimate businesses.

His video showed apparently empty facilities and included people who said they had not seen children at the locations.

AG BLANCHE UNVEILS FEDERAL CHARGES AGAINST 160 DEFENDANTS IN PANDEMIC RELIEF SWEEP The White House credited Shirley’s reporting with helping spur a surge of FBI and Department of Homeland Security resources into Minnesota, followed by investigations, arrests and new charges .

One facility featured in Shirley’s video was Future Leaders Early Learning Center, whose former CEO, Fahima Egeh Mahamud , pleaded guilty in July to wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States.

HOUSE GOP BILL MOVES TO CLOSE WHISTLEBLOWER GAPS EXPOSED BY MINNESOTA MEDICAID FRAUD SCANDAL Prosecutors said Mahamud stole more than $4.6 million through false child care assistance claims and $850,000 through a federal child nutrition program connected to the Feeding Our Future scandal .

Shirley previously pointed to Mahamud’s guilty plea as vindication of his reporting amid efforts to discredit his investigations.